Our Lady of the Angels, Crozet, Virginia

We all have that one individual in our lives for whom it is impossible to buy the perfect gift. Christmas shopping for this person involves wracking our brains for unique ideas, usually unsuccessfully, and in the end, they receive a generic gift that is well-received but still not complete perfection. However, if said individual is a fan of cheese (and isn’t a vegan, of course), then we believe we have found the perfect gift for them (which you can pick up during your stay at the Iris Inn!).

Our Lady of the Angels is a Trappist monastery located in Crozet, Virginia and comprised of eleven lovely Sisters. The Sisters boast a variety of backgrounds, having come from New York, Minnesota, Texas, Korea, India, and various other locations. These diligently faithful women make a living by making Gouda cheese, using a Dutch recipe and fresh cheese culture from Wisconsin. Everything from making the cheese to packaging and shipping the cheese is done by the Sisters of the monastery, illustrating their emphasis on self-sufficiency and manual labor. As they state on their website, “We try to be good stewards of our land, and our cheese-making endeavor helps to support our life of prayer and service.”

If you are interested in purchasing cheese or simply visiting the monastery, the Sisters will gladly welcome you. Gouda cheese would certainly make a deliciously unique holiday gift!